Egbers Leads Red Devils Through Pivotal Season
Photo by Dan Loh.
Quarterback talks support systems, team culture and leadership
by Tony Moore
From the moment he first stepped onto the football field at age 7, Presley Egbers ’24 (economics) knew he had found his sport.
“Football was something I immediately gravitated toward and wanted to keep playing every day as a kid,” he says, adding that he could always be found in his yard, throwing the football with his dad. In elementary and middle school, he was a fixture on the sidelines, serving as a ball boy for the high school team. And, at every home game, he’d watch in awe as the older kids hit the field.
“I idolized the players every time I was out there,” Egbers says. “I couldn’t wait to play quarterback in front of my hometown on Friday nights.”
Once he was on the field himself, and in the driver’s seat as quarterback, it wasn’t long before his leadership and playmaking abilities allowed him to find the success that helped him decide to play college football. That and the support of his parents.
“My parents were my biggest support system growing up,” Egbers says. “They’re my biggest fans, and I can’t thank them enough for being so instrumental in my life and football career.”
Now, as Dickinson’s quarterback, Egbers has led the Red Devils’ resurgence, helping the team achieve its first winning season in 14 years, finishing 6-4 after a tough 3-7 finish in 2022. And leading the team is something Egbers embraces.
“As the leader of your team, you’re the first one there and the last one to leave,” Egbers says. “I learned from a very young age that the best leaders lead by example. I try to emulate that every day on campus, whether we are in a game, at practice, in the meeting room or working out in the offseason.”
After a remarkable recovery from a torn ACL last season, coupled with the team’s impressive turnaround, Egbers credits his drive and a strong 2023 season to leadership found at the top.
“Much of the team’s success can be attributed to Coach [Brad] Fordyce and his staff, who have instilled a team-first mentality that has permeated every aspect of the program,” Egbers says. “Being a part of this culture change as our team captain has been super rewarding and shows that hard work pays off.”
A transfer student two years ago, Egbers has relished every moment as a Red Devil, from the 21-play, game-winning drive against rival Franklin & Marshall to the improbable fourth-quarter comeback victory over Christopher Newport University. And he hasn’t just had to elevate his game on the field.
“On the academic side, I’ve had to raise my standard, too—like on the football field—to match the caliber of students in the classroom,” he says. “To be a Dickinsonian is a true privilege and offers a great opportunity to excel both academically and athletically. Dickinson has motivated and pushed me to be a better person and well-rounded individual.”
Read more from the winter 2024 issue of Dickinson Magazine.
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Published March 8, 2024